One common thread many travelers worldwide share is the penchant for shopping—a demand which hoteliers, particularly those in the Middle East and Asia, are happy to oblige by connecting new hotel developments to retail outlets and malls…brands scramble for prime space near existing malls or by building vertical lifestyle centers in densely populated Asia due to the fact there is only room for one hotel in a given region.

One major shopping center owner conducted a multi-year study on its 200-plus properties and concluded the right hotel/shopping center connection can boost gross sales at the centers by 20% to 40%, reported the Global Hospitality Group of law firm Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell (JMBM).